Vhunze Moto

Vhunze Moto means "burning ember" in Oliver Mtukudzi's native Shona, and this new collection of "Tuku music" will glow right round the globe. Oliver Mtukudzi has a bigger, rougher, less ingratiating voice than that of his internationally more famous colleague (and acknowledged influence) Thomas Mapfumo, but his favourite themes are gentler, dealing with the virtues of honesty, decency and kindness. At the same time he was the first man to sing about Aids in Zimbabwe: he's passionate about the fate of his embattled land. This new album has the same gently electrified sounds and lilting rhythms as his previous album Paivepo; in its notably spare instrumentation, consisting mostly of acoustic African percussion, his softly-plucked guitar is the biggest sound around. Indulging in call-and-response with his backing singers, he sometimes produces a timbre which is more a wobbly rasp than a vibrato, but the total effect is very beguiling. No wonder Bonnie Raitt is covering one of his songs on her new album Silver Lining. In its sunny way, this stuff really is addictive. --Michael Church

Label: Unknown
Studio: Putumayo
Released: 2002-04-22
Format: Audio CD